Global Conflict Reporting

Author: Scott Jackson

  • Chaos erupts in Serbian parliament.

    Chaos erupts in Serbian parliament.

    By Scott Jackson

    03/04/2025

    Today during a legislative session led by The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Serbia’s parliament chaos erupted when opposition members, in an effort to support the demonstrations currently ongoing in the country, threw smoke grenades, waved flares and scuffled with security guards.

    Video showing the start of the smoke bombs.

    A massive student-led protest has been ongoing in Serbia for around 4 months, ignited by the deaths of 15 people when a railway station roof collapsed in the town of Novi Sad. The protest have drawn in teachers, farmers and more. Since then they have become the largest threat to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long rule, calling for a stop in the rampant corruption and incompetence in government.

    At the start of the meeting after the SNS has approved the agenda, several members of the opposition party ran towards the speaker and fought with security guards. Others started throwing smoke grenades and waving flares around, filling the room with thick black and red smoke. Others used pepper spray.

    Speaker Ana Brnabic said three of the PMs were injured and one, Jasmina Obradovic of the SNS party, had suffered a stroke and was taken to the hospital. Zlatibor Loncar, the Health Minister later commented on Obradovic, saying she was in serious condition.

    While the session continued several minutes later opposition party members started using noisemakers and blowing whistles. Holding signs up saying things like “general strike” and “justice for those killed”.

    The filling party has put the blame outside of its country, claiming western countries are using their intelligence agencies against them to destabilize the country.

    Parliament was set to vote on a bill to increase funding to universities, one of the demands of the protesters. However another item on the agenda, that being the noting of the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, upset the opposition and seems to have been what set off today’s events as well as President Alexander Vucic’s statement on Tuesday that he would decide in the next ten days on whether to hold elections or to form a new goverment.

    PM Miloš Vučević resigned at a press conference in January after months of mass protest from the deaths from the train station collapse. “in order to defuse tensions” He along with the current mayor of Novi Sad, the site of the train station roof collapse, are both views as somewhat responsible as the Chinese construction consortium was brought into do work during their time in service to Novi Sad.

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  • North and South Carolina experiences a wave of wildfires. (Videos)

    North and South Carolina experiences a wave of wildfires. (Videos)

    03/02/2025

    By. Scott Jackson

    Firefighters across North and South Carolina are currently battling a staggering 175 wildfires. Windy and dry conditions across the states has caused for growing concern as evacuation orders are issued.

    The ongoing fires have burned over 4000 acres over the weekend and continued into Monday. South Carolina governor Henry McMasters issued some localized evacuation orders as well as a state of emergency allowing for federal funds and resources to be made available although I don’t have specifics for that as of yet.

    The cause of these wildfires is unknown in most cases however one in Polk County, North Carolina was caused by a downed power line. Conditions on the ground with low humidity and little rain haven’t helped matters. U.S. forest service put out an alert that improper and careless debris burning had caused some of the blazes. The U.S. forest Service was one hit with a wave of layoffs recently, some expect wildfires to increase as part of the forest services job is brush cleanup as well as other wildfire preventative measures.

    (I’ve reached out to the forest service and will update when I hear back.)

    Map shows the location of some of the larger blazes.

    The Myrtle beach area of South Carolina has been impacted by heavy fires. As always local reporting can’t be beat so I’m including it here:

    https://amp.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article301310494.html

    Video from the Myrtle Beach Area.

    The Blue Ridge Mountains fire in North Carolina is threatening the communities of Saluda and Tryon, which are located near the South Carolina border. Reporting here.

    https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2025/03/03/tryon-forest-fire-30-contained-has-burned-over-500-acres/

    The South Carolina National Guard has been mobilized to aid in the fire fighting efforts. Several Blackhawk Helicopters have been dispatched to carry water. No word from the White House on the ongoing situation.

  • Footage released showing US forces conducting targeted airstrike killing senior Huertas Al-Din members.

    Footage released showing US forces conducting targeted airstrike killing senior Huertas Al-Din members.

    By Scott Jackson

    02/02/2025

    On February 23rd US Central Command (US- CENTCOM) forces carried out a targeted airstrike on an automobile driven by Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a military leader of the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Northern Syria.

    Video shows the airstrike on a vehicular claimed to be occupied by Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay.

    The airstrike took place in Northern Syria on February 23rd while the video was not released until yesterday. The attack was carried out with a Hellfire AGM-114 R9X “Flying Ginsu” or “knife missile”. The AGM-114 R9X is a regular hellfire missile with the

    AGM-114R9X

    As we have said in the past, we will continue to relentlessly pursue these terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,”

    Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command

    The strike was the 3rd strike in February that targeted a member of one of the groups located in Northern Syria and the 4th strike of this nature since U.S. President Trump took office. During the Biden administration the group, made up of about 2,500 soldiers at best estimate, was given the designation as a terrorist outfit and strikes were carried out periodically that would target upper leadership. The group made a standby after the fall of Assad that they would be disbanding however US surveillance drone flights have increased in the northern Syria and Idlib region to make sure that the groups members don’t migrate to other theaters of conflict.

  • Chinese PLA Navy Forces conduct live fire drill in waters between Australia and New Zealand.

    Chinese PLA Navy Forces conduct live fire drill in waters between Australia and New Zealand.

    By. Scott Jackson

    February 24th, 2025

    Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, first spotted last week according to Australian officials, have carried out a military drill in the Tasman Sea, the area between Australia and New Zealand. The drill, carried out on Friday, consisted of ship maneuvers as well as a live-fire component. Air traffic in the region was warned only moments before the live fire drills started and were forced to divert to other routes.

    “We haven’t been given a reason as to why they’re here in this configuration with this set of ships, with these different set of capabilities, and we don’t really have a sense of, you know, we haven’t been told where they’re going and why.”

    Said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. He continued

    “They are in international waters, they are completely within the balance of international law and the UN Convention on the law on the sea, which is important, it is important that all countries have freedom of navigation, it works for us when we are out and about in the world as well.”

    The task force of Chinese ships was led by Type 055 destroyer Zunyi. Also was the Type 054A Frigate Hengyang, and Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu.

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  • US Airforce conducts show of force flight through the Middle East.

    US Airforce conducts show of force flight through the Middle East.

    By: Scott Jackson

    February,20th 2025

    February 17 concluded a 24 hour flight for a number of US aircraft that went on a “show of force” mission. Also called a “force projection” demonstration through the Middle East.

    Flying out of RAF Fairford, South of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, 2 US B-52 Stratofortress long range bombers made their way south over Europe and into the Mediterranean and then on to the Middle East.

    The Bombers were joined by a number of escorts from 4 regional partner nations at various points during its mission as well as at least 2 U.S. F-15 Strike Eagles.

    B-52s flying with 2 US F-15 Strike Eagles as well as two unknown partner nation F-16s Vipers.

    “Bomber Task Force missions demonstrate U.S. power projection capability, commitment to regional security, and ability to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the CENTCOM region”said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.

    While being mainly a power projection mission the bombers also took part in dropping live munitions on several target ranges located in partner nations.

    Live fire range bombing (location unknown released by US CENTCOM)

    These bombers are apart of the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron that just started the U.S. Air Forces first European bomber deployment for the year. They will fly out of RAF Fairford and are under command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFA).

    Some of the B-52s in Europe had already been photographed earlier this week when a picture was released by USAFE out of the cockpit of a B-52 showing them flying alongside French Dassault Rafales, Swedish Saab JAS-39 Gripens, and Finnish F/A-18 Hornets,other photos were later released of the the flight. (shown below)

    Operation APEX COMMANDER shows the U.S. Bombers operating with European allied fighters.

    “Bomber Task Force missions reinforce our ability to rapidly project combat power, demonstrating U.S. lethality and readiness in a dynamic security environment,” Maj. Gen. Joseph Campo, U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces

    While the U.S. has shown a desire to back away from European security it’s likely that the bomber deployments will, at least for the moment remain. US Allies do not, for the most part, have the ground attack capabilities that aircraft like the B-52, the B-1 and the B-2s can bring (as well as the new B-21 Raider. and interest in training alongside these bomber forces remains high.

    (more…)
  • Cargo containership losses power and runs aground in Newfoundland.(Video Included)

    Cargo containership losses power and runs aground in Newfoundland.(Video Included)

    By. Scott Jackson

    02/15/2025
    MSC Baltic III running aground in Newfoundland.

    Earlier this morning, February 15th 2025, MSC Baltic III, a Liberian flagged Cargo containership lost power and ran aground in Newfoundland. The ship has left Montreal, Canada and was heading to Corner Brook, NL. The seas I. The area are rough even on a good day but today a winter storm was raging. Allegedly a large wave hit the ship knocking out power and thus the ships propulsion. The ship was aet adrift and battered as can be seen on the AIS marine tracking data. The crew attempted to stop the ship at the point it became obvious they were going to hit land however the anchor was not able to stop them and the ship drove into Wild Cove, west of Lark Harbor and close to the mouth of the river that would take them to their destination.

    AIS Marine Tracking Data showing the ships course before she stuck ground.

    At some point before hitting ground at Wild Cove the crew had declared a MAYDAY and sent out a distress call that was picked up by Marine Communications and Traffic Services in Port aux Basques. The Canadian Coast Guard and its icebreaker Henry Larsen has responded to the scene and all 20 crew have been pulled from the ship however there are reported injuries.

    Video shows the Canadian Coast Guard airlifting crew off the ship in high winds and rough seas.

    It unknown at this time but some questions have been raised about the possibility of a potential pollution hazard in this case as the sea hammers the ship which though it’s not likely could break apart.

    The CCGS Harry Larsen that responded to the accident.
  • Russian drone strikes the Chernobyl sarcophagus. (Video included)

    Russian drone strikes the Chernobyl sarcophagus. (Video included)

    By: Scott Jackson

    02/14/2025
    The protective “sarcophagus” over the reactor core for reactor number 4.

    At around 1:50 a.m. local time the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency said a blast occurred on the roof of the metal sarcophagus housing the concrete cover over the irradiated remains of reactor 4’s core. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that a Russian suicide drone was the cause of the explosion, Russian officials at the Kremlin deny this.

    “There is no talk about strikes on nuclear infrastructure, nuclear energy facilities, any such claim isn’t true, our military doesn’t do that,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in a conference with the press.

    The drone can be seen on video coming in from the Northeast. Russian/Belarusian territory. Pictures of the aftermath show some debris from the drone. The engine appears to be the same as what is found on an Iranian supplied Shahed drone used by Russian forces.

    Video from a security camera shows the drone that impacted on the reactors outer casing.
    Debris found after the strike. Note the engine in the middle.
    Shahed Drone Engine.
    Another angle.

    Chernobyl was the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986. The control room was running a series of test simulating cooling the reactor in blackout conditions. There was an unplanned drop in reactor power and then a surge in power when the control team tried to take the reactor offline and some components used for reactor cooling started rupturing and losing coolant. This resulted in an explosion of steam and a reactor meltdown that destroyed the containment building. Radiation spread for thousands of miles across the USSR and Europe. The series of events leading up to the meltdown are well documented online but if you want the Hollywood version that’s a little easier to understand the show Chernobyl did a pretty decent job of explaining how the core meltdown occurred.

    While the initial explosion only killed 2 engineers and wounded 2 others, the resulting radiation affected thousands and is remembered as the worst nuclear disaster in as well as the most expensive human disaster in history.

    Chernobyl after the disaster.